Google is set to test their automated Lexus RX450h SUVs in another Texas capital this week in order to present their cars' capabilities in a new environment as well as gather sufficient data for improved driving.
The company is currently testing one of their self-driving cars in Austin, Texas and is set to experiment another same unit later this week.
Google was already gathering data on north and northeast of downtown Austin the last few weeks using their Lexus cars, which are first run by trained safety drivers. During this time, the company collected lane markers, traffic signals, curb heights, and other street map details to help their cars analyze and understand for improved driving.
The company then made their Lexus' software and sensors do the driving the last few days.
In the Austin, Texas test drive, Google will put two trained safety drivers ride on the cars in order to take over when needed while the units run along the streets. The trained personnel will give important feedback to the company's engineers about the car's performance.
"Over time, if this initial testing goes well, we hope to map and drive in more areas of Austin," the company said in a statement.
Google first made their Lexus cars self-drive along the roads of Montain View, CA since 2009. This move to test in Austin, Texas is to acquire new experiences with different driving surroundings, traffic patterns, and road situations.
"Keeping Austin's roads safe is one of our highest priorities, so we look forward to seeing how self-driving car technology might someday improve traffic safety," Austin, Texas Chief of Police Art Acevedo said.
The company's self-driving cars were already involved in more than a dozen accidents in the past six years of testing. However, the bumps were said to be the fault of human drivers in other cars.
The latest three accidents involving their units were rear-end collisions at stoplights by other motorists as detailed in the company's new monthly reports, USA Today noted.
Google is not the only company investing in self-driving cars as more and more companies are also undertaking in this technology. Uber is seen staffing their self-driving car division too. Further, Ford, Audi, and others are increasing their respective teams assigned for implementing self-driving features in their new models.
Statistics showed that there are 1.2 million people dying worldwide every year due to traffic accidents, with 33,000 of them are said to be in the U.S.
In view of this, Google aims to attain traffic safety through self-driving cars.